Built Environment Plus

Carbon and Energy Roundtable
2023-08-17 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-21 15:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-19 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Carbon and Energy Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to carbon and energy in buildings.
Reach out to carbonenergy@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Emerging Professionals Roundtable
2023-08-24 17:30 - 19:00 | WSP, 100 Summer Street, Boston, MA, 02110, United States
Emerging Professionals Roundtable
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Location: WSP, 100 Summer Street 13th Floor, Boston, MA 02110
Join the BE+ Emerging Professionals Community for our monthly Roundtable. We will discuss upcoming Emerging Professionals events, and network over pizza and drinks. Registration is free for BE+ Members and Emerging Professionals. Hybrid option available.

Emerging Professionals Media Club
2023-08-31 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual Event
Emerging Professionals Media Club

This event is for anyone interested in podcasts, economics, and climate solutions!
The BE+ spin on a bookclub! The Emerging Professionals Media Club will host recurring, multimodal discussions around sustainability topics. This event invites participants to discussing 2 articles that contradict each other.
Articles:
Article 1: The End of Deep Energy Retrofits
Article 2: Response to the NESEA BE Boston 2023 Wednesday Keynote, ‘Why We Stopped Doing Deep Energy Retrofits’
Add thoughts and questions to our ongoing Media Club Miro Board!

This event was planned, and is hosted, by the BE+ Emerging Professionals Committee.
Background photo by Dillon Shook on Unsplash

Certified Passive House Designer (PHI) Training
2023-09-06 | Virtual Event
About the Class
This course provides tools, techniques and tips for how to build via passive house principles for all building types, diving into Passive House building concepts and building a foundation of knowledge and skills to integrate PHI building design standards into building projects. This course is specifically designed to teach the international Passive House Standard (PHI) to design and construction professionals in the U.S. and is required prior to taking the CPHD/C professional certification exam. It can be held online or in person, and is a combination of presentation and discussion.
This 8 week training includes live online training and Q&A sessions and an in-person site visit to a PHI project in MA. Trainees who successfully complete the training are eligible to take the certification exam the final week of the course. Additional course materials including access to the on-demand Using PHPP in Passive House Design and Certification course, Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software individual license, and supplemental exam preparation materials are also provided.
The total cost for the course is $2,295. $1400 is covered by the Express Grant, and an additional $895 fee for on-demand course materials and the certification exam is not covered by the Express Grant and must be paid out-of-pocket by the company.
Background photo above is by Steve Pancrate on Unsplash.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Outline the basic building science principles of the Passive House Standard.
Determine strategies for implementing the principles in both design and construction phases.
Describe the role of the Passive House energy model and its relationship to component selection, detailing and execution.
Explain basic energy calculations based on typical building assemblies.

Training Schedule
Week 1: Modules 1 & 2September 6th, 2023 | 1 PM ET Kickoff
Week 2: Modules 3 – 5 September 19th, 2023 | 12 PM ET Q&A Session
Week 3: Module 6September 26th, 2023 | 12 – 3 PM ET Webinar
Week 4: Modules 7 – 9October 3rd, 2023 | 12 PM ET Q&A Session
Week 5: Modules 10 – 12 October 10th, 2023 | 12 PM ET Q&A Session
Week 6: Module 13October 17th, 2023 | 12 – 3 PM ET Webinar
Week 7: Module 14October 24th, 2023 | 12 PM ET Q&A Session
Week 8: Module 15 Date TBD Site Visit
Weeks 9 & 10: Exam PrepNovember 6th – November 28th, 2023
Week 11: Exam ReviewNovember 21st, 2023 | 12 – 2 PM ET
Week 12: Tech SetupNovember 28th, 2023 | 10 – 11 AM ET
Week 13: PHI CPHD/C Live-Online ExamDecember 5th, 2023 | 10 AM – 1 PM ET

Technology and Course Requirements
Live-Online courses require a personal computer or laptop with a good internet connection, speed, and audio listening capabilities. A web-camera is preferred for Live-Online sessions. Preferred web browsers are Firefox, Chrome, or Chromium-based browsers.
A Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) software individual license is provided.
For PHN On-Demand courses all lessons, topics, and quizzes must be marked complete; any required webinars must be attended; and the post-training survey must be completed. For In-Person & Live-Online multi-day courses, no more than 2 hours can be missed to receive a course completion certificate. This course will prepare you for PHI’s Certified Passive House Designer / Consultant exam.

Education Credits
35 AIA LU/HSW credits & certificate of completion. AIA credits for Live-Online and In-Person Sessions will be reported to AIA by Passive House Network (PHN) if a participant provides their AIA number during registration. All other participants can use the certificate of completion to report continuing education credits either to AIA, or other agencies that recognize the AIA CE credits.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by August 16th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
The total cost for the course is $2,295. $1400 is covered by the Express Grant, and an additional $895 fee for on-demand course materials and the certification exam is not covered by the Express Grant and must be paid out-of-pocket by the company.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1135246

Design Charrettes: A Tool to Manage Cost, Optimize Synthesis, and Achieve Excellence
2023-09-07 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
The demands for high-performance, net zero, resilient design are growing. A key element to meeting these demands in the collaborative design process is the design “charrette” or workshop. Unfortunately, they often are underutilized and don’t fulfill their full potential. This course is designed for owners, designers, and employees within the built environment industry who want to unlock the potential of their projects. Participants will leave with the strategies, templates, and guiding principles needed to use charrettes as a means of building effective teams, controlling costs, and coordinating strategies to keep projects on track.
This course is taught by Barbra Batshalom Sustainable Performance Institute (SPI).

Funding Grants Available: Submit by August 16th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1136162

Background photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash.

Health and Wellness Roundtable
2023-09-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Health and Wellness Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to healthy buildings.
Reach out to wellness@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

May 2023 – Induction Stoves in Housing & Health Impacts of Gas in Buildings

Topic description and Subject Matter Experts TBA

Health & Wellness: PFAS in the Built Environment
2023-09-08 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Event
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals that don’t break down in the environment and can harm our health. This session focuses on raising awareness of PFAS in the built environment, looking at all stages: the overarching science, manufacturing, introduction into building, presence in turf fields, environmental effects in drinking water, and end of life in deconstruction. The conversation will include multiple speakers from a variety of backgrounds, bringing more attention to the issues surrounding PFAS.
For a primer on PFAS visit: https://greensciencepolicy.org/harmful-chemicals/pfas/
Subject Matter Experts:Lisa Goodwin Robbins | Architect, Specifier | Kalin Associates Inc.Dr. Brita Lundberg | CEO and Founder | Lundberg Health AdvocatesLaura Spark | Senior Policy Advocate | Clean Water Action

Jennifer Pederson is the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA). MWWA is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the advancement of the drinking water profession. Since 2006, Jennifer has been overseeing MWWA’s drinking water operator education programs, volunteer committees, public relations and is responsible for coordinating the association’s legislative and regulatory affairs. She is a registered lobbyist in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Jennifer represents MWWA many state committees including the Water Management Act Advisory Committee and the Safe Drinking Water Act Advisory Committee. She was MWWA’s representative to the PFAS Interagency Task Force, the Mosquito Control for the 21 st Century Task Force, and the Sustainable Water Management Initiative Policy Committee. Jennifer received a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Suffolk University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy/Public Policy and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Lisa J. Goodwin Robbins has been writing architectural specifications almost forever. Working on a wide variety of project types, she supports other Architects, both designers and project managers, in their efforts to be green, to solve problems, and to get their projects built. She helps to develop and maintain Kalin Associates’ sustainable design specifications, LEED, LBC, PHIUS, and embodied carbon documentation requirements, and base specification systems. Lisa is also board chair at Silent Spring Institute, the leading scientific research organization dedicated to uncovering the environmental causes of breast cancer. During the past ten years, Lisa has been speaking about healthier building materials and indoor air quality at national and regional conferences. She is committed to raising awareness among architects and designers about avoiding toxic chemicals in our built environment.
Trained as an infectious diseases physician and former Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University, Dr. Brita Lundberg is CEO and founder of Lundberg Health Advocates, LLC, a patient advocacy group; and CEO and founder of the Health Equity Institute, which offers education and connection to patient advocacy services for patients in need.
Dr. Lundberg is an active member of Climate Code Blue, a physician-led advocacy group dedicated to raising public awareness around the health effects of climate change; Chair of the Board at Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, and delegate and emeritus Chair of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Environmental and Occupational Health Committee. She feels that advocating on issues relating to public health is part of her job as a physician.
Mikhail Davis is Director of Technical Sustainability at Interface, a global flooring manufacturer committed to showing industry how to make a profit in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life. Mikhail is responsible for building internal leadership capacity, providing technical assistance to customers on their sustainability efforts, and creating external partnerships in sustainability. He served as 2016-19 Chair of the LEED Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group for the US Green Building Council and is current co-chair of the Procurement Climate Collaborative at the Sustainable Procurement Leadership Council (SPLC). He co-authored the chapter on Plastics for Bruce King’s 2017 book, The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate and is a certified Biomimicry Specialist.
Laura Spark is Senior Policy Advocate at Clean Water Action, where she coordinates advocacy on issues related to environmental health and building decarbonization. She facilitates the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, a coalition of over 60 organizations working to get toxic chemicals out of consumer products and the environment. Before coming to Clean Water Action, Laura spent 25 years working as an urban planner and nonprofit manager, developing affordable housing and managing service programs and advocacy initiatives to address homelessness and poverty. She has held positions at Massachusetts Association for Community Action, Vietnamese American Initiative for Development, Tri-City Community Action Program, and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. She has also had a consulting practice, helping nonprofits and public agencies develop housing and resources for low-income people. She has a Master of Architecture and Master of City Planning from MIT and an undergraduate degree from Yale University

BE+ Bike Tour 2023
2023-09-09 09:00 - 14:00 | Alewife Brook Reservation, Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA, 02140, United States
Grab a bike and join us for the 2023 BE+ Bike Tour!
This year, we will be touring from Cambridge to Boston Seaport, following the Green Line Extension community path along with projects from local architecture and engineering firms in their efforts in creating a more sustainable built environment.
All riders are required to complete this Safety Waiver and Liability Release form prior to the event. After registering, you will be receiving a confirmation email outlining next steps and important information in preparation for the ride.

Visit the Bike Tour 23' Webpage

Building Science Fundamentals
2023-09-12 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-14 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-19 13:00 - 17:00, 2023-09-21 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Four 4-Hour Sessions from September 12th to September 21st.
About the Class
Building Science Fundamentals is a seminar that teaches the basic knowledge needed to design and build durable, energy-efficient, affordable, and healthy buildings. This is an interactive sessions with where questions are encouraged. The course will discuss building science principles (such as the control of heat, air, and moisture and IAQ) and show you how to apply them to low-energy enclosure design, advanced HVAC systems, forensic investigations, and the repair and retrofit of existing buildings.
Building Science Fundamentals has been attended by thousands of builders, architects, engineers, building science consultants, building code officials, facility managers, building product manufacturers, and government officials. Upon completion of the seminar, members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will receive 16 LU|HSW posted directly to the AIA Provider website.
Registration closes on August 29th.

About Building Science Corporation
Building Science Corporation is a building science consulting firm with clients throughout North America. BSC specializes in building technology consulting for all types of buildings including commercial, institutional and residential. Our focus is preventing and resolving problems related to building design, construction and operation. We are internationally recognized for our expertise in moisture dynamics, indoor air quality, and building failure forensic investigations. We are also on the leading edge of the design of sustainable buildings and communities. We believe in promoting energy efficiency and environmental responsibility within the constraints of marketable and affordable building technology.

4 Sessions
Session 1: September 12, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Environmental SeparationDefinition of a BuildingThe Effect of ClimateThe Perfect WallThe Water MoleculeRelative Humidity and Vapor PressureAir Flow and Vapor DiffusionRainCapillarity
Session 2: September 14, 1:00 – 5:00pm
The Myth of the Dew PointRoofs Vented and UnventedIce DamsCrawlspaces Vented and UnventedBasementsSlabs and Flooring
Session 3: September 19, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Stucco FailuresPressure and IAQBuildings as 3-D Airflow NetworksControlling Pressures and PathwaysStack Effect and CompartmentalizationHVACPart Load and Humidity ControlCentral Systems vs. Distributed Systems
Session 4: September 21, 1:00 – 5:00pm
RetrofitsMass BuildingsFreeze ThawInterior Foundation RetrofitsHistoric Building LimitationsFrame BuildingsDeep Energy Retrofits

Funding Grants Available: Submit by August 22nd, 2023
Funding Grants Available: Submit by August 22nd, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131731

Emerging Professionals September Social
2023-09-21 17:00 - 19:30 | The Beantown Pub, 100 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02108, United States
Join the Emerging Professionals Community for our September Social!
Come to our in-person event to network, meet the Community leaders, and hear about exciting upcoming events. Registration includes admission and 1 drink ticket.
Location:
The Beantown Pub – 100 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
This event is $10 for Emerging Professionals.
This event was planned and is hosted, by the BE+ Emerging Professionals Community

Greenbuild 2023: Building Transformation
2023-09-26 08:00 - 2023-09-29 19:00 | MA
Connect with like-minded sustainability professionals and discuss solutions to your project’s challenges at Greenbuild 2023.
If you want to learn, meet other sustainability leaders, find new products/services, and have fun, Greenbuild is your opportunity to gain the insights needed for a strong year ahead.
This year at Greenbuild 2023 in Washington, DC, the Greenbuild team has made all of that easier – and more valuable – with new, customized Circles of Sustainability Networking Activities – providing exciting ways to meet with the right partners.
As the U.S. recently passed the billion-dollar Inflation Reduction Act, a significant level of federal funding is dedicated to carbon reduction as well as clean energy investments. It’s more critical than ever for the green building industry to stay on top of the latest building codes, tech advances, and exciting ideas in the sustainability world.
Not only will there be ground-breaking keynotes and CE-accredited education sessions to keep your skills sharp and your certification current, but Greenbuild will also feature some can’t-miss networking activities, evening events, and more to help recharge your mind, body, and spirit.
Here’s a sneak peek at just a few of the new activities you can expect this year:
Morning rejuvenation: Get focused and energized for the busy days while you explore the spectacular Washington, DC, scenery and get your heart pumping. Greenbuild organizes a guided morning run through the heart of the city and morning yoga to ensure a productive and healthy start to the event.
Hands-on workshops: In these collaborative workshops, you’ll brainstorm solutions to a real-world challenge that Greenbuild’s hand-selected session leaders are currently experiencing. Guaranteed, you’ll come out with new ideas and approaches that you can apply to your own business or your projects.
Happy hours in the Expo Hall: In addition to winding down with evening cocktails on the show floor lounge, if you download our Greenbuild mobile app, you’ll be able to schedule personally relevant, one-on-one meetings with a targeted list of your fellow attendees and exhibitors. Greenbuild’s AI-powered algorithm will match you with the right connections to spark meaningful business opportunities – a definite upgrade from the days of standing around with a drink in your hand, hoping you luck into a valuable conversation.
Speed networking: If you’re looking for an even more efficient meet-and-greet experience, Greenbuild also offers the sustainable business version of speed dating. Whether you’re looking for a quick intro to the latest vendor or have an exciting idea you’d like to pitch to potential partners, these fast-paced events will introduce you to a wide range of green building professionals, so your networking time is optimized for efficiency and impact.
Evening celebrations: From their evening welcome reception to the Greenbuild Gala celebration, you’ll have a chance to reconnect with old friends and make a few new ones during a night packed with great music, food, drinks, and more!
Greenbuild 2023 is pulling out all the stops this year to celebrate USGBC’s 30th anniversary. The Greenbuild team maintains the highest health and safety standards to ensure all attendees feel confident that they’ll enjoy a seamless and stress-free experience. Of course, if you cannot join Greenbuild in person this year, you can still take advantage of their virtual conference pass, which grants you on-demand access to two selected tracks to watch at your convenience.
With more reasons than ever to want to break out of your year-long holding pattern and return to the business of creating sustainable spaces, you won’t want to miss Greenbuild in Washington, DC, September 26-29 | Expo: 27-28, 2023. Register for your pass today. Prices increase after September 25th.

Register Here

Passive House 201: Technical Aspects of Design & Construction
2023-09-26 15:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
This session will take a deeper look into common design & construction strategies for achieving the Passive House standard.
Concepts will include building envelope & insulation, air tightness, thermal bridging, testing & verification, and mechanical systems. A brief review of Passive House basics will be included, though some familiarity is recommended.
This course is taught by Aaron Gunderson. Aaron is the Executive Director of Passive House Massachusetts, overseeing member engagement, public outreach, educational programing, and organizational administration. He is a Certified Passive House Tradesperson and an accredited LEED professional with prior experience in community outreach & development for clean-tech companies and solar power installers. He holds a Master’s in Sustainability from Harvard University where he focused on sustainable building design, embodied carbon and energy analysis, greenhouse gas reporting, and community-level climate adaptation.

Course Objectives
Learn about designing projects to the Passive House standard and details to focus on, including thermal & air barriers.
Learn about common construction issues and strategies to successfully build PH projects.
Learn about methods to achieve PH air tightness metrics and conduct testing & verification on the envelope.
Learn about mechanical systems, including VRFs, heat pumps, and ERVs, and things to consider when designing for them.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by September 5th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131154

Background photo above is of The Distillery via Icon Architecture

Phius Certified Builder (CPHB) Training
2023-10-02 | Virtual Event
(8) 3-Hour Sessions from October 2nd to 13th

About the Class
The Phius Certified Builder Certification is for tradespeople and construction professionals with field experience in construction and/or high performance building. This training prepares construction professionals to understand passive building techniques — airtight enclosures, high-performance window installation, passive design strategies, field quality assurance, and site management. For a project pursuing Phius Certification, these professionals ensure the building is built and operating to the plans and specifications. They are responsible for executing air-sealing and thermal bridge mitigation. This training is delivered live, online over 8 days.
The cost of the certification exam is not covered by the Express Grant Program, and must be paid out-of-pocket by the company.
Registration closes on September 18th.

About Phius
Phius (Passive House Institute US) trains and certifies professionals, maintains the Phius climate-specific passive building standard, certifies and quality assures passive buildings, certifies high-performance building products and conducts research to advance high-performance building.

Training Schedule
Session 1: Monday, October 2nd – 2:00-5:00pmSession 2: Tuesday, October 3rd – 2:00-5:00pmSession 3: Thursday, October 5th – 2:00-5:00pmSession 4: Friday, October 6th – 2:00-5:00pmSession 5: Tuesday, October 10th – 2:00-5:00pmSession 6: Wednesday, October 11th – 2:00-5:00pmSession 7: Thursday, October 12th – 2:00-5:00pmSession 8: Friday, October 13th – 2:00-5:00pm

Funding Grants Available: Submit by September 11th, 2023
Grant deadline: September 11th
Please note that you must submit an Express Grant application minimum of 21 days out from the live training start date. Complete an Express Grant application here.
$1,400.00 is eligible for grant funding. (The total course cost is $1,550. $150 is the cost of the exam and must be paid out-of-pocket by the company).
The Express Grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
Course ID#: 1146564

Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance
2023-10-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Decarbonize Existing Buildings Alliance hosted monthly roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss issues related to decarbonizing existing buildings.
Reach out to communications@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.
Existing buildings are major contributors to climate change. In 2015, existing residential and commercial buildings generated 1,913.3 MMtCO2e, or 29 percent of total U.S. emissions. To help address this sector, Built Environment Plus (BE+) with Rethinking Power Management LLC (RPM) are spearheading a coalition of organizations with expertise in GHG reduction and who are committed to supporting decarbonization in existing buildings.
This reoccurring monthly gathering is a roundtable which serves as a platform where practitioners and reporting entities can come together to discuss best practices, technologies, challenges, hear information related to the ordinance and its implementation, etc.
The Alliance’s objectives include:
– Increase awareness of energy disclosure ordinances including BERDO and BEUDO and enhance understanding of requirements.
– Provide information and resources to reporting organizations that answer “how do we comply” questions through general and building-sector specific webinars.
– Engage disadvantaged/underserved communities.
– Share best practices and lessons learned.
– Provide resources to building owners to help understand decarbonization pathways and create carbon reduction roadmaps.
– Work with non-profit partners to provide information about/introductions to established practitioners.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Living Future Roundtable
2023-10-05 09:00 - 10:00 | Virtual Event
Join the BE+ Living Future Roundtable, a venue for architects, designers, construction managers, and sustainability professionals to discuss topics and issues related to International Living Future Institute (ILFI) programs.
Reach out to livingfuture@builtenvironmentplus.org with any inquiries, questions, or concerns.

*Roundtables are FREE for Built Environment Plus Members.
**New to the Roundtables? Join as a Newcomer, and come visit up to 3 times for FREE. After that, consider becoming a BE+ Member, or purchase general admission to return as you like.

Tally Office Hours
2023-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
Drop in with any questions you have about tallyLCA and how to apply it to your projects as they relate to MassCEC’s Embodied Carbon Reduction Challenge. The tallyLCA team will be available to assist, so it’s your best chance get your questions answered.

Background photo by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash.

Implicit Bias I: Implicit Bias Thinkshop
2023-10-17 09:30 - 12:30 | Virtual Event
This interactive session will feature a combination of brief presentations, group design, exercises, and facilitated, full-group discussions. The intent is for participants to deepen their knowledge and understanding of inclusivity and implicit bias in the broader employment market at this moment in time, within their organization, and in their own individual work. Implicit Bias I provides an overview. The focus of this workshop is to improve overall employee engagement and performance by maximizing inclusion and minimizing implicit bias in the workplace.
This course is taught by Tiffany Cogell Design4Equity.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by September 26th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131364

Background photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash.

High-Performance Building for Carpenters (4 Part Course)
2023-10-19 | Studio for High-Performance Design + Construction, 186 Riverview Avenue, Waltham, MA, 02453
Four 5-Hour Sessions from October 19th to November 9th.
About the Class
This in-person training teaches carpenters how to apply fundamental building skills to high-performance construction projects. Topics focus on the four layers of a high-performance house: water, air, vapor, and thermal. Students will learn high-performance essentials through building science lessons, hands-on practice with mock-up assemblies, and project management training. The multi-faceted learning approach provides carpenters with a holistic understanding of high-performance construction from building science to install. This training is taught by two sustainable building experts accompanied by guest speakers representing materials manufacturers and vendors.
Registration closes on October 12th.

About SHPDC
Housed in a state-of-the-art Passive House facility, StudioHPDC is a classroom and educational center for sustainable design & construction. We develop and host training courses for consumers, students, architects, and trades people in all experience levels ranging from introductory sessions and overviews to hands-on workshops and certification programs. In addition to training courses, we host regular networking and discussion group events and provide resources for all those interested in sustainable construction.
The Studio for High Performance Design & Construction is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Learning Objectives
1. Gain a fundamental understanding of high- performance building science
2. Understand key components and concepts of high-performance residential construction
3. Apply concepts to hands-on construction through use of mock-up assemblies
4. Review high-performance project management strategies
5. Finish the course prepared to leverage skills in a career in high-performance construction

4 Sessions
Session 1: Framing & Sheathing
Thursday, October 19 – 1:00-6:00pm
Session 2: Air Sealing
Thursday, October 26 – 1:00-6:00pm
Session 3: Insulation
Thursday, November 2 – 1:00-6:00pm
Session 4: Windows & Doors
Thursday, November 9 – 1:00-6:00pm

Funding Grants Available: Submit by September 28th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1137031

Achieving Whole-Building LCA and EPD Credits for LEED (One Click LCA)
2023-10-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Event
This training provides an understanding of how to achieve whole-building LCA and EPD related credits on LEED projects. Attendees will learn how to easily handle the life cycle assessment process, as well as a comprehensive breakdown of LEED related credits and how to leverage One Click LCA for various LEED schemes. Learn the importance of embodied carbon calculations, the requirements of LCA credits in LEED v4 and v4.1, how to set baseline strategies in LEED v4 and v4.1, and common strategies for reducing building LCA impacts.
Note: This course counts as one of the Embodied Carbon Challenge (ECC) courses for ECC participants.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by September 28th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1146451

Background photo by Codioful (Formerly Gradienta) on Unsplash.

Emerging Professionals Roundtable
2023-10-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Chapman Construction, 84 Winchester, Newton, MA, 02461, United States
Emerging Professionals Roundtable
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Location: TBA
Join the BE+ Emerging Professionals Community for our monthly Roundtable. We will discuss upcoming Emerging Professionals events, and network over pizza and drinks. Registration is free for BE+ Members and Emerging Professionals.

BE+ Green Building Showcase 2023
2023-10-26 16:00 - 21:30 | Amazon L4 Tower, 111 Harbor Way, Boston, MA, 02210, United States
The BE+ 2023 Green Building Showcase Awards Program & Celebration.
Your Community. Your Projects. Your Showcase.

Visit the GBS23 Webpage

Buildings and Carbon
2023-11-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Event
This course will focus on climate impacts associated with carbon emissions from the built environment. It will emphasize the importance of goal setting and taking actions to manage building-related carbon emissions throughout a building’s life cycle.
The course will begin with an exploration of the context of climate emissions in the built environment, covering topics such as the global carbon cycle, whole building life cycle analysis, operational carbon, embodied carbon and the impact of building materials and practices, carbon storage and buildings as carbon sinks, the “time value” of carbon, and a series of solutions from material selection to policy engagement for addressing the climate impact of the built environment. In particular, the course focuses on the topic of embodied carbon, including the framing of the built environment in the global carbon cycle and the role of carbon storage, life cycle assessment and the time value of carbon, strategies for reducing embodied carbon throughout a building’s design, workflow strategies for integrating embodied carbon analysis into the design process, and a survey of tools, databases, and other resources available to conduct embodied carbon analysis and make actionable decisions to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of the building.
Next, the course will explore applied strategies in the context of a design practice, covering topics such as goal setting and defined metrics, defining core questions framing carbon analysis, carbon accounting tools, and workflow in the design process.
Finally, the course will guide participants through a workshop and facilitated discussion in which key barriers to and opportunities for implementing carbon reduction strategies in participants’ practices are identified, discussed, prioritized, and formulated into an action list for participants to reference moving forward to actualize real carbon reduction in their work.

Learning Objectives
Understand the impact of embodied carbon and carbon storage in building materials.
Become familiar with real-world examples and case studies that stored carbon.
Identify tools, workflow strategies, and other resources for carbon accounting in the design process.
Take action on opportunities and strategies for integrating climate action and carbon reduction into their professional practice.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 12th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131156

Background photo by Clark Van Der Beken on Unsplash

Fundamentals of Pre-Construction and Project Management
2023-11-07 | Virtual Event
Seven 1-1/2 Hour Sessions from November 7th to December 19th
About the Class
This interactive virtual training is targeted at emerging project managers and estimators. Over the course of seven sessions, participants will learn the fundamentals of good pre-construction and project management practice. The sessions will be virtual and live, combining presentation with hands-on exercises and group discussion. Participants will be provided with assignments between sessions, tools, and templates.
Registration closes on October 24th.

About HELM
HELM is a collaborative team with expertise in construction, management, leadership, and education. With main offices in Montpelier and Brattleboro, Vermont and satellite offices in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Chicago we work with contractors, architects, homeowners, business owners, and institutions throughout the country to advance high performance building practices and triple bottom line business principles. HELM is a socially responsible business dedicated to empowering teams to work together in collaborative and creative ways for a common shared outcome.

Learning Objectives
Gain insight on best practices for pre-construction and project management
Practice reviewing architectural plans and developing a scope of work
Learn strategies for developing preliminary and detailed estimates
Build a Gantt chart construction schedule
Process a Change Order document
Understand fundamentals of client management and team facilitation

7 Sessions
Session #1 (11/7) – Introduction, Sales, Overview
Session #2 (11/14) – Pre-Con, Expectations, Schematic Design
Session #3 (11/21) – Estimating for Design Development & Construction Documents
Session #4 (11/28) – Contracts, Kickoff, Pre-Mortem
Session #5 (12/5) – Scheduling, and Change Orders
Session #6 (12/12) – Project Management
Session #7 (12/19) – Overview, Project Close Out, Discussion

Sessions will be offered via Zoom on seven consecutive Tuesdays from 3:00-4:30pm. Registration is limited to keep the group small and allow for lots of discussion and small group breakouts. Attending all sessions in real-time is strongly encouraged, however, we will be recording the sessions.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 17th, 2023
Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 17th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1135951

Building Science Fundamentals
2023-11-07 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Four 4-Hour Sessions from November 7th to November 16th.
About the Class
Building Science Fundamentals is a seminar that teaches the basic knowledge needed to design and build durable, energy-efficient, affordable, and healthy buildings. This is an interactive sessions with where questions are encouraged. The course will discuss building science principles (such as the control of heat, air, and moisture and IAQ) and show you how to apply them to low-energy enclosure design, advanced HVAC systems, forensic investigations, and the repair and retrofit of existing buildings.
Building Science Fundamentals has been attended by thousands of builders, architects, engineers, building science consultants, building code officials, facility managers, building product manufacturers, and government officials. Upon completion of the seminar, members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will receive 16 LU|HSW posted directly to the AIA Provider website.
Registration closes on October 24th.

About Building Science Corporation
Building Science Corporation is a building science consulting firm with clients throughout North America. BSC specializes in building technology consulting for all types of buildings including commercial, institutional and residential. Our focus is preventing and resolving problems related to building design, construction and operation. We are internationally recognized for our expertise in moisture dynamics, indoor air quality, and building failure forensic investigations. We are also on the leading edge of the design of sustainable buildings and communities. We believe in promoting energy efficiency and environmental responsibility within the constraints of marketable and affordable building technology.

4 Sessions
Session 1: November 7, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Environmental SeparationDefinition of a BuildingThe Effect of ClimateThe Perfect WallThe Water MoleculeRelative Humidity and Vapor PressureAir Flow and Vapor DiffusionRainCapillarity
Session 2: November 9, 1:00 – 5:00pm
The Myth of the Dew PointRoofs Vented and UnventedIce DamsCrawlspaces Vented and UnventedBasementsSlabs and Flooring
Session 3: November 14, 1:00 – 5:00pm
Stucco FailuresPressure and IAQBuildings as 3-D Airflow NetworksControlling Pressures and PathwaysStack Effect and CompartmentalizationHVACPart Load and Humidity ControlCentral Systems vs. Distributed Systems
Session 4: November 16, 1:00 – 5:00pm
RetrofitsMass BuildingsFreeze ThawInterior Foundation RetrofitsHistoric Building LimitationsFrame BuildingsDeep Energy Retrofits

Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 17th, 2023
Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 17th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1131731

Tools for Building Life-Cycle Assessment (Tally)
2023-11-09 13:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Event
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a critical methodology that can be used by building design professionals to evaluate the climate impact of their projects. Participants will learn life-cycle assessment (LCA) terminology and basic concepts, how to incorporate LCA in design workflow, and how to conduct an LCA for a building project using the LCA tool Tally. Participants will be introduced to the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) Tool, a free and open-source database of environmental product declarations (EPDs), and learn how Tally and EC3 can be used to inform specifications and achieve LEED points.
Note: This course counts as one of the Embodied Carbon Challenge (ECC) courses for ECC participants.

This course is taught by Vaclav Hasik Building Transparency.

Meet your instructor
Vaclav Hasik is a Program Director at Building Transparency, a non-profit organization behind the EC3 Tool and Tally. Vaclav works on methodology, data quality, and LCA research supporting both tools. Vaclav was previously a sustainability analyst and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) expert at Urban Fabrick, where he managed projects pursuing LEED certification and helped design teams address embodied carbon through whole-building LCAs. Vaclav also worked as a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was involved in university-wide carbon accounting, sustainability planning, and research on data and methods for LCA of buildings. He is an active member of the Carbon Leadership Forum and a founder of its San Francisco Bay Area hub.

Funding Grants Available: Submit by October 19th, 2023
The express grant is designed to help businesses of all sizes respond quickly to emerging needs and keep employees engaged. With bite-size grants for just-in-time training and no waiting periods between grants, the Express program is the Workforce Training Fund’s fastest path to funding.
You could take this training for FREE. Complete an Express Grant Application.
Course ID# 1135248

Background photo by Dylan Nolte on Unsplash.
